The Burke County Planning and Zoning Commission, along with the county commissioners, representatives from Basin Global/Stampede, states attorney, emergency manager, and other interested individuals attended a public hearing, Tuesday, July 21, for Ash Inc., out of Simi Valley, CA, for an oil refinery south of Columbus on Hwy. 40.

Those in attendance left with more questions than answers.
Ash Inc. submitted an application to the Planning and Zoning Council to change the zoning in Fay Township from agricultural to industrial for an oil refinery.

The 640 acres of land (SW1/2S19 and NW1/2 S20, T162NR93W) was previously a coal mine.

Bret Wolz and Albert Howell of Ash Inc. explained the refinery capacity would be 20,000 barrels a day, mostly being diesel, with the finished product leaving the facility by rail. They anticipate 40 to 50 trucks a day.More

Pictured above left to right are: Cheryl Kennedy, Regional Director of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Kelsey Stratton and Crystal Labatore, Renville County Social Services; and Tracy Follman, North Dakota Department of Human Services during the annual Showcase training and recognition event sponsored by the North Dakota Department of Human Services.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) officials from the North Dakota Department of Human Services recently presented Renville County Social Service staff with a performance award for completing the required number of SNAP case file reviews in federal fiscal year 2014.

Department officials presented the award during the annual Showcase training and recognition event held in Bismarck, ND last month.

“One of the most successful tools in attaining and maintaining high payment accuracy is a good case review system,” said North Dakota SNAP Director Arlene Dura. “This award demonstrates a county’s strong commitment to program accuracy and timely issuance of food assistance benefits.”

By Ginny Heth
There was a ‘hot time in the old town’ on Saturday as Westhope Community Club hosted the First Annual Chili Cook-off!
May 10th was chosen as Community Day for Westhope with city-wide rummage sales happening throughout the day as well as the annual Presbyterian Women’s fund raiser serving sloppy joes, pie and coffee. They also had basket- and purse-mania, a silent auction type activity that is fun for all. Included this year in the day’s activities was the Trini Tree Frogs Youth Group detailing the insides of cars. They had a great turn-out for their fund raiser, even having to turn away a couple of cars that arrived after their time was up. Maybe they will have to plan another day of car cleaning since people were so happy to have someone to take on that task for them!
Meanwhile, all around town people’s homes were beginning to smell a lot like a Mexican restaurant as pots of chili were started in anticipation for the Chili Cook-off. Around 3:00 p.m., the Gateway Community Room began buzzing with activity as the ten contestants brought their chili in for tasting......some contestants even brought their own Mexican ambience including table cloths, decorations (even some hung on the wall!) and music!!
Ten entirely different pots of chili were there for the tasting when it began at 4:30 p.m. coming from Westhope Farmers Union (Kevin Schroeder, cook); Westhope Fire Department (Ryan Ellsworth, cook); Double EE Service (Ben Cartwright, cook); John Gruenberg, M&D Pizza (Heather Lee, cook); Presbyterian Children (Lola & Randy Kimpland); Rachel Gruenberg; Kim & Lance Kjelshus; Opdahl’s Grocery (Barb Opdahl, cook); and Westhope Ambulance (UB & Sylvia Schlieper, cooks). There were white chilis, red chilis, and no bean chilis. Some were quite spicy and some were just flavorful, with out the bite! Many contestants included ‘add-ins’ such as sour cream, onions, chips, crackers and cheese to make their offering more enticing. Community Club provided corn bread to make sure everyone had a way to ‘cut the heat’ between bowls of chili, coffee & water with the water being the most popular thing!
In all, nearly 100 people voted and there was a tie for first place! Opdahl’s Grocery and Kim & Lance Kjelshus are the proud winners, sharing a traveling trophy for the year and prize money. Coming in a close third (only one vote separated the three chilis!) was Westhope Ambulance with UB’s Road Kill Chili, who took home a small cash prize as well.
Plans are already in the works for the 2nd Annual Westhope Community Day Chili Cook-off, so get those recipes tweeked, plan on a few decorations for your table (Opdahl’s & the Kjelshus’ both had very nicely decorated tables -- whether that had anything to do with the winning or not.....) and take a chance at bragging rights for next year!!